When the Gators need someone to drive in a crucial run near the end of a big game this season, they won't be looking to the same player they depended on last year.
Mary Ratliff, the lone senior on last year's record-setting UF softball team, had a knack for coming up with clutch hits in late-inning situations during big games, a skill that coach Tim Walton said cannot be duplicated. It's something that probably won't be duplicated when UF goes against North Georgia College and State University on Saturday and Santa Fe College on Sunday.
Ratliff displayed that timely ability multiple times throughout UF's 2008 season, most notably in the Gators' first game in the Women's College World Series. Ratliff's game-winning double in the ninth inning against National Player of the Year Angela Tincher of Virginia Tech gave the Gators a 2-0 victory and kept their postseason alive.
But Ratliff brought more to the team than just her heroics at the plate. Walton said her guidance and attitude - as when she sent out mass text messages to the team about social events or team meetings - will be greatly missed.
"Mary had so many intangibles that are so hard to replace," he said. "Not just her hits and her everyday play in right field. She was our leader."
That's not to say the team is devoid of leadership heading into next season, though. The Gators return seven seniors from last year's roster, including All-Americans Stacey Nelson and Kim Waleszonia.
Nelson said Ratliff taught her the importance of keeping the team focused, something she hopes to accomplish as one of the team's primary leaders.
"She was always leading our cheers and leading our huddles, which got everyone on the same page," Nelson said. "I learned from her sense of direction."
As for those dramatic, game-winning hits, Walton said a single player can't be expected to consistently fill Ratliff's shoes in those situations.
"You really don't replace that because you don't even know if that exists in somebody until it happens," Walton said. "We're not looking for someone to be a hero. Any one of our hitters in that lineup can replace or help to replace some of (Ratliff's) offense."
